The Jerusalem District Court has ruled that the PA (Palestinian Authority) is response for abducting, imprisoning and torturing of collaborators, informants providing information to Israeli security agencies. This was the ruling in a case involving eight PA residents acting as informants for Israeli security services who managed to flee to Israel for safety.

During the trial, the PA maintained an Israeli court does not have the jurisdiction to rule on the case against the PA. Justice Moshe Drori rejected the claim and ruled that the Oslo Accords gives Israel the required jurisdiction in security matters throughout Yehuda and Shomron including security matters related to Israel. Since the collaborators were arrested by the ISA (Israel Security Agency/Shin Bet) on security grounds, Israel has jurisdiction in the case.

On the merits of the case, Justice Drori in his ruling stated the PA severely imprisoned and tortured eight collaborators and that it must compensate them. Among other things, they include torture: the removal of the victims’ fingernails, hanging them upside down, tooth extractions and more. The final compensation is expected to amount to NIS tens of millions. The resulting disabilities of the victims resulting from the torture have been determined by the court.

Attorneys Barak Kedem and Aryeh Arbus represented the collaborators. They said: “We congratulate the court on its decision, obligating the PA to pay compensation to eight collaborators assisting Israel. The State of Israel has a deep moral obligation to those who were imprisoned and tortured because of being accused of preventing terrorist attacks in the streets regarding the court’s decision last week, that the PA was responsible for the abduction, imprisonment and torture of eight collaborators with Israel.”

The eight managed to flee to Israel and the case was filed in the Jerusalem District Court against the PA.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)